Main valve with internal rigid structure

ABSTRACT

A valve assembly is described herein that includes a valve plate and a main valve contacting the valve plate, the main valve having an internal rigid structure and an outer shell, the internal rigid structure having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to valves. More specifically, this disclosurerelates to main valves.

BACKGROUND

Valve elements are used to regulate or control the flow of material byopening, closing, or partially obstructing various passageways. One typeof valve is a main valve, which can be used in a number of applications,such as within a hydrant shoe of a dry-barrel fire hydrant.

SUMMARY

Disclosed is a valve assembly including a valve plate and a main valvecontacting the valve plate, the main valve having an internal rigidstructure and an outer shell, the internal rigid structure having a topsurface, a bottom surface, and a side surface.

Also disclosed is a hydrant including a hydrant body defining an inletand an outlet, the inlet connectable to a fluid supply and a main valvehaving an internal rigid structure and an outer shell, the main valvecoupled to the hydrant body and mountable between the outlet of thehydrant body and the fluid supply, the outlet of the hydrant body atleast indirectly sealable by the main valve.

Also disclosed is a method of operating a valve including urging a mainvalve away from a seating surface, the main valve including an internalrigid structure and an outer shell; allowing a desired amount of fluidto pass between the main valve and the seating surface; and engaging themain valve with the seating surface to stop fluid from passing betweenthe main valve and the seating surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and components of the following figures are illustrated toemphasize the general principles of the present disclosure.Corresponding features and components throughout the figures may bedesignated by matching reference characters for the sake of consistencyand clarity.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a hydrant in accordance with oneembodiment of the current disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a detail cross-sectional view of a lower barrel and a hydrantshoe of the hydrant of FIG. 1 including a valve.

FIG. 3 is a top view of a main valve of the valve of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the main valve of FIG.3.

FIG. 5 is a detail cross-sectional view of the main valve of FIG. 2mounted in the hydrant shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed is a main valve and associated methods, systems, devices, andvarious apparatus. The main valve includes an internal rigid structure.It would be understood by one of skill in the art that the disclosedmain valve is described in but a few exemplary embodiments among many.No particular terminology or description should be considered limitingon the disclosure or the scope of any claims issuing therefrom.

One embodiment of a main valve 136 mounted in a hydrant 100 is shown inFIG. 1 and described below. In the current embodiment, the hydrant 100is a dry-barrel fire hydrant having a hydrant body 110, a bonnet 108connected to the top of hydrant body 110, a vertical barrel 112connected to the bottom of hydrant body 110, and a hydrant shoe 132connected to the bottom of vertical barrel 112, which may be connectedto a water supply pipe or any other fluid supply pipe. In variousembodiments, hydrant 100 may be other types of fire hydrants, such as awet-barrel fire hydrant, and the disclosure of a dry-barrel fire hydrantshould not be considered limiting. In the current embodiment, anoperating nut 102 is mounted on the bonnet and has a threaded connectionwith a stem 114. Stem 114 includes upper stem portion 214 a and lowerstem portion 214 b in the current embodiment connected by a pair ofclevis pins 216 a,b having cotter pins 218 a,b, respectively, though theupper stem portion 214 a and lower stem portion 214 b may be connectedby any fastener in various embodiments, including welding, screws, orbolts, and the stem 114 may be a single unit in various embodiments.

In the current embodiment, a valve assembly 130 is coupled to the lowerstem portion 214 b. The valve assembly 130 includes a main valve 136, anupper valve plate 138, and a lower valve plate 134. The valve assembly130 is coupled to the lower stem portion 214 b by a cap nut 140 and astem pin 150. The cap nut 140 is connected to the lower stem portion 214b in the current embodiment by threading 240. The stem pin 150 extendsthrough the lower stem portion 214 b and connects with upper valve plate138. The main valve 136 and the lower valve plate 134 are thereby heldbetween the upper valve plate 138 and the cap nut 140, though the valveassembly 130 may be mounted to the stem 114 by other methods in variousembodiments, including fasteners, brackets, threading on the upper valveplate 138 or the lower valve plate 134, welding, or gluing, or the uppervalve plate 138 or the lower valve plate 134 may be formed integrallywith stem 114, and the present disclosure of a stem pin 150 and a capnut 140 should not be considered limiting.

In the current embodiment, the hydrant body 110 includes a pumper nozzle170 defining a pumper nozzle outlet 172 and a hose nozzle 180 defining ahose nozzle outlet 182. The pumper nozzle outlet 172 is covered by apumper nozzle cap 174 and the hose nozzle outlet 182 is covered by ahose nozzle cap 184. Pumper nozzle cap 174 and hose nozzle cap 184 areremovable for attachment of a pumper and a hose, respectively, to thehydrant 100.

As seen in FIG. 2, a drain ring housing 120 is secured between verticalbarrel 112 and hydrant shoe 132 via a bolt 126 and is sealed withrespect to vertical barrel 112 using a gasket 128. The drain ringhousing 120 may be secured by other methods in different embodiments,such as gluing, welding, brackets, or other fasteners. A seat ring 122is threadedly engaged to an interior portion of drain ring housing 120through a threaded connection 124. Seat ring 122 has a beveled seatingsurface 123 defined in an interior portion thereof for sealing againstmain valve 136. Main valve 136 includes a side surface 146, a topsurface 144, and a bottom surface 148. In the current embodiment, uppervalve plate 138 contacts top surface 144 and lower valve plate 134contacts bottom surface 148. The side surface 146 defines a firstbeveled portion 137 disposed between bottom surface 148 and top surface144.

In operation in the current embodiment, to allow water to flow from thewater supply pipe to the hydrant body 110, operating nut 102 is turnedin one direction, lowering valve stem 114 and thereby causing lowervalve plate 134 to urge main valve 136 away from seat ring 122 such thatfirst beveled portion 137 disengages from beveled seating surface 123.To discontinue water flowing from the water supply pipe to the hydrantbody 110, operating nut 102 is turned in the opposite direction, raisingvalve stem 114 and thereby causing lower valve plate 134 to urge mainvalve 136 towards seat ring 122 such that first beveled portion 137engages beveled seating surface 123. The hose nozzle outlet 182 and thepumper nozzle outlet 172 are thereby at least indirectly sealable bymain valve 136.

FIG. 2 also shows that main valve 136 includes an internal rigidstructure 250 enclosed within an outer shell 260. In the currentembodiment, the outer shell 260 is formed from a flexible,water-impervious material such as rubber or plastics. Further, in thecurrent embodiment, the internal rigid structure is formed from a rigidmaterial such as cast iron, hard plastic, stainless steel, or other hardmaterials. The internal rigid structure 250 may be a solid piece or ahollow shell in various embodiments. In the current embodiment, theinternal rigid structure 250 is a solid piece and has a top profile thatis ring-shaped such that the cross section shown in FIG. 2 extendscontinuously around stem 114. In various embodiments, the internal rigidstructure 250 may include one or more ring portions. In variousembodiments, the internal rigid structure 250 may have a top profileshaped like a square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon, or any other shape,and may not include a bore through the center in various embodimentswhere the stem 114 does not pass through main valve 136, for instance.Further, in various embodiments, the internal rigid structure 250 maynot be fully enclosed by outer shell 260, but may be partially enclosedin various embodiments.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a top view and a partial cross-sectional view,respectively, of the main valve 136. In the current embodiment, sidesurface 146, top surface 144, and bottom surface 148 are defined onouter shell 260. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4. the side surface 146 of mainvalve 136 defines a first beveled portion 137, a second beveled portion142, a third beveled portion 160, and a fourth beveled portion 162. Thefirst beveled portion 137 extends from a radially outermost edge 310 ofsurface 146 to a second beveled portion 142 substantially at an angle Aand second beveled portion 142 extends from first beveled portion 137 totop surface 144 substantially at an angle B, wherein angle B is largerthan angle A. First beveled portion 137 provides a seating portion whilethe second beveled portion 142 represents additional material missingthat limits creep and deformation to extend the useful life of the mainvalve 136 and better seating and sealing over the useful life of thevalve assembly 130. In various embodiments, the second beveled portion142 may be achieved by introducing a radius between the first beveledportion 137 and the top surface 144.

The third beveled portion 160 extends from radially outermost edge 310to fourth beveled portion 162 at an angle C and fourth beveled portion162 extends from third beveled portion 160 to bottom surface 148substantially at an angle D, wherein angle D is larger than angle C. Invarious embodiments, the fourth beveled portion 162 may be achieved byintroducing a radius between the third beveled portion 160 and thebottom surface 148.

In the current embodiment, angle C is approximately equal to angle A andangle D is approximately equal to angle B, though angles A and C and/orangles B and D, respectively, may be different from each other invarious embodiments. Thus, in the current embodiment, the top portion ofmain valve 136 is substantially identical to the bottom portion of mainvalve 136. This advantageously allows main valve 136 to be reversiblesuch that if the top portion of main valve 136 becomes damaged orfatigued, main valve 136 may be ‘flipped’ over such that the bottomportion of main valve 136 may be used to form a seal with beveledseating surface 123. Thus, reversible main valve 136 with improvedsealing affords the ability to affect a repair even when a replacementpart is not available. The matching contours of the top portion andbottom portion of main valve 136 may therefore facilitate more resilientand better sealing.

Further, as can be seen in FIG. 4, in the current embodiment, internalrigid structure 250 defines an inner surface 252, a top surface 254, abottom surface 258, and a side surface 256. In the current embodiment,side surface 256 defines a radially outermost edge 410, a first angledportion 264 extending from radially outermost edge 410 to top surface254, and a second angled portion 268 extending from radially outermostedge 410 to bottom surface 258. In the current embodiment, first angledportion 264 has a first angle that is approximately equal to a secondangle of second angled portion 268, though the first angle and thesecond angle may not be equal in various embodiments. In addition,radially outermost edge 410 of internal rigid structure 250, in thecurrent embodiment, is approximately coplanar with radially outermostedge 310 of main valve 136, though radially outermost edge 410 may notbe coplanar with radially outermost edge 310 in various embodiments.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, main valve 136 advantageously allows asufficient seal to develop between first beveled portion 137 and abeveled seating surface 123 of seat ring 122 at a smaller diameter, thusproviding a higher leak point. Therefore, a greater amount of force perunit area is applied at the interface between seat ring 122 and mainvalve 136. As a result, sealing may be accomplished with less totalforce and less deformation of main valve 136. Moreover, plastic creepmay not occur into the gap between upper valve plate 138 and seat ring122, since angle B between first beveled portion 137 and second beveledportion 142 reduces the diameter of main valve 136 immediately adjacentto the gap, advantageously lengthening the life of the valve. The sameis provided as described hereinbefore, with respect to the bottomportion if/when the valve element is flipped in service.

In addition, in the current embodiment, internal rigid structure 250provides support to outer shell 260 such that main valve 136 is capableof withstanding higher operating pressures than main valves lackinginternal rigid structure 250, such as solid rubber main valves. Further,internal rigid structure 250 prevents main valve 136 from plastic creepoccurring into the gap between upper valve plate 138 and seat ring 122.In the current embodiment, first angled portion 264 provides support tofirst beveled portion 137 and second beveled portion 142, and secondangled portion 268 provides support to third beveled portion 160 andfourth beveled portion 162. However, first angled portion 264 and secondangled portion 268 may not be present in various embodiments, andinternal rigid structure 250 may be included in various main valves notincluding any of first beveled portion 137, second beveled portion 142,third beveled portion 160, and fourth beveled portion 162.

One should note that conditional language, such as, among others, “can,”“could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, orotherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intendedto convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments donot include, certain features, elements and/or steps. Thus, suchconditional language is not generally intended to imply that features,elements and/or steps are in any way required for one or more particularembodiments or that one or more particular embodiments necessarilyinclude logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting,whether these features, elements and/or steps are included or are to beperformed in any particular embodiment. Moreover, unless specificallystated any use of the terms first, second, top, bottom, upper, lower,etc. do not denote any order or importance or absolute positioning, butrather the terms first, second, top, bottom etc. are used to distinguishone element from another. Further, the size, shape, thickness, and otherdimensions and features of the various components shown in the figuresare for illustrative purposes and should not be considered limiting. Thedrawings are not drawn to scale.

It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments are merelypossible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clearunderstanding of the principles of the present disclosure. Any processdescriptions or blocks in flow diagrams should be understood asrepresenting modules, segments, or portions of code which include one ormore executable instructions for implementing specific logical functionsor steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included inwhich functions may not be included or executed at all, may be executedout of order from that shown or discussed, including substantiallyconcurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionalityinvolved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the artof the present disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be madeto the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantiallyfrom the spirit and principles of the present disclosure. Further, thescope of the present disclosure is intended to cover any and allcombinations and sub-combinations of all elements, features, and aspectsdiscussed above. All such modifications and variations are intended tobe included herein within the scope of the present disclosure, and allpossible claims to individual aspects or combinations of elements orsteps are intended to be supported by the present disclosure.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A valve assembly comprising: a valve plate;and a main valve contacting the valve plate, the main valve having aninternal rigid structure and an outer shell, the internal rigidstructure having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface,the internal rigid structure being fully enclosed by the outer shellsuch that the outer shell covers every surface of the internal rigidstructure, the outer shell defining a side surface and a radiallyoutermost edge on the side surface, the side surface of the outer shellincluding a first beveled portion and a second beveled portion, thefirst beveled portion extending from the radially outermost edge of theside surface of the outer shell towards a top surface of the outershell, the second beveled portion extending from the first beveledportion to the top surface of the outer shell, the outer shell alsoincluding an elastic material.
 2. The valve assembly of claim 1, whereinthe valve plate is a lower valve plate, wherein the lower valve platecontacts a bottom surface of the main valve, the valve assembly furthercomprising an upper valve plate contacting a top surface of the mainvalve.
 3. The valve assembly of claim 2, wherein the lower valve platecontacts a bottom surface of the outer shell of the main valve, andwherein the upper valve plate contacts a top surface of the outer shellof the main valve.
 4. The valve assembly of claim 1, wherein theinternal rigid structure is ring-shaped, the outer shell covering aninner surface of the ring-shaped internal rigid structure.
 5. The valveassembly of claim 1, wherein the side surface of the outer shellincludes a third beveled portion extending from the radially outermostedge of the side surface of the outer shell towards a bottom surface ofthe outer shell, and wherein the side surface of the outer shellincludes a fourth beveled portion extending from the third beveledportion to the bottom surface of the outer shell.
 6. The valve assemblyof claim 1, wherein the internal rigid structure defines a radiallyoutermost edge on the side surface of the internal rigid structure. 7.The valve assembly of claim 6, wherein the side surface of the internalrigid structure includes a first angled portion extending from theradially outermost edge of the side surface of the internal rigidstructure towards the top surface of the internal rigid structure. 8.The valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the side surface of the internalrigid structure includes a second angled portion extending from theradially outermost edge of the side surface of the internal rigidstructure towards the bottom surface of the internal rigid structure. 9.A hydrant comprising: a hydrant body defining an inlet and an outlet,the inlet connectable to a fluid supply; and a main valve having aninternal rigid structure and an outer shell, the internal rigidstructure being ring-shaped and defining a top surface, a bottomsurface, an inner surface, and a side surface, the side surfaceincluding a first angled portion, a second angled portion, and aradially outermost edge, the first angled portion extending from theradially outermost edge of the side surface of the internal rigidstructure towards the top surface of the internal rigid structure, andthe second angled portion extending from the radially outermost edge ofthe side surface of the internal rigid structure towards the bottomsurface of the internal rigid structure, the internal rigid structurebeing fully enclosed by the outer shell such that the outer shell coversevery surface of the internal rigid structure, the main valve coupled tothe hydrant body and mountable between the outlet of the hydrant bodyand the fluid supply, the outlet of the hydrant body at least indirectlysealable by the main valve.
 10. The hydrant of claim 9, furthercomprising: a hydrant shoe; and a stem connecting the hydrant body tothe hydrant shoe, wherein the main valve is mounted to the stem betweenthe hydrant shoe and the hydrant body.
 11. The hydrant of claim 10,further comprising a seat ring mounted between the hydrant shoe and thehydrant body, the main valve sealably-engageable with the seat ring. 12.The hydrant of claim 11, wherein the seat ring defines a beveled seatingsurface, and wherein the main valve defines a first beveled portion, thefirst beveled portion engageable with the beveled seating surface.
 13. Amethod of operating a valve comprising: urging a main valve away from abeveled seating surface defined on a seat ring, the main valve includingan internal rigid structure and an outer shell, the outer shell of themain valve defining a top surface, a bottom surface, and a side surface,the side surface including a radially outermost edge, a first beveledportion, a second beveled portion, a third beveled portion, and a fourthbeveled portion, the first beveled portion extending from the radiallyoutermost edge towards the top surface, the second beveled portionextending from the first beveled portion to the top surface, the thirdbeveled portion extending from the radially outermost edge towards thebottom surface, and the fourth beveled portion extending from the thirdbeveled portion to the bottom surface, the internal rigid structurebeing fully enclosed by the outer shell such that the outer shell coversevery surface of the internal rigid structure; allowing a desired amountof fluid to pass between the main valve and the seating surface; andengaging the first beveled portion of the side surface of the outershell of the main valve with the beveled seating surface to stop fluidfrom passing between the main valve and the seating surface.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the seat ring is mounted in a hydrant. 15.The method of claim 13, wherein the internal rigid structure isring-shaped and defines a top surface, a bottom surface, an innersurface, and a side surface, the outer shell covering the inner surfaceof the ring-shaped internal rigid structure, the side surface includinga first angled portion, a second angled portion, and a radiallyoutermost edge, the first angled portion extending from the radiallyoutermost edge of the side surface of the internal rigid structuretowards the top surface of the internal rigid structure, and the secondangled portion extending from the radially outermost edge of the sidesurface of the internal rigid structure towards the bottom surface ofthe internal rigid structure.
 16. A hydrant comprising: a hydrant bodydefining an inlet and an outlet, the inlet connectable to a fluidsupply; and a main valve having an internal rigid structure and an outershell, the internal rigid structure being fully enclosed by the outershell such that the outer shell covers every surface of the internalrigid structure, the outer shell defining a side surface and a radiallyoutermost edge on the side surface, the side surface of the outer shellincluding a first beveled portion and a second beveled portion, thefirst beveled portion extending from the radially outermost edge of theside surface of the outer shell towards a top surface of the outershell, the second beveled portion extending from the first beveledportion to the top surface of the outer shell, the outer shell alsoincluding an elastic material, the main valve coupled to the hydrantbody and mountable between the outlet of the hydrant body and the fluidsupply, the outlet of the hydrant body at least indirectly sealable bythe main valve.
 17. A method of operating a valve comprising: urging amain valve away from a seating surface, the main valve including aninternal rigid structure and an outer shell, the internal rigidstructure being ring-shaped and defining a top surface, a bottomsurface, an inner surface, and a side surface, the side surfaceincluding a first angled portion, a second angled portion, and aradially outermost edge, the first angled portion extending from theradially outermost edge of the side surface of the internal rigidstructure towards the top surface of the internal rigid structure, andthe second angled portion extending from the radially outermost edge ofthe side surface of the internal rigid structure towards the bottomsurface of the internal rigid structure, the internal rigid structurebeing fully enclosed by the outer shell such that the outer shell coversevery surface of the internal rigid structure including the innersurface; allowing a desired amount of fluid to pass between the mainvalve and the seating surface; and engaging the main valve with theseating surface to stop fluid from passing between the main valve andthe seating surface.
 18. A method of operating a valve comprising:urging a main valve away from a seating surface, the main valveincluding an internal rigid structure and an outer shell, the internalrigid structure being fully enclosed by the outer shell such that theouter shell covers every surface of the internal rigid structure, theouter shell defining a side surface and a radially outermost edge on theside surface, the side surface of the outer shell including a firstbeveled portion and a second beveled portion, the first beveled portionextending from the radially outermost edge of the side surface of theouter shell towards a top surface of the outer shell, the second beveledportion extending from the first beveled portion to the top surface ofthe outer shell, the outer shell also including an elastic material;allowing a desired amount of fluid to pass between the main valve andthe seating surface; and engaging the main valve with the seatingsurface to stop fluid from passing between the main valve and theseating surface.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein: the outer shell ofthe main valve further defines a top surface and a bottom surface, theside surface further including a third beveled portion and a fourthbeveled portion, the third beveled portion extending from the radiallyoutermost edge towards the bottom surface and the fourth beveled portionextending from the third beveled portion to the bottom surface; whereinthe seating surface is a beveled seating surface defined on a seat ring;and wherein engaging the main valve with the seating surface includesengaging the first beveled portion of the side surface of the outershell of the main valve with the beveled seating surface.
 20. The methodof claim 18, wherein the main valve is mounted in a hydrant.